1
as in counterfeits
an imitation that is passed off as genuine
experts declared that one of the museum's prized paintings was actually a fake
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in frauds
one who makes false claims of identity or expertise
a hidden-camera investigation revealed that the so-called psychic was a fake
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in forges
to imitate or copy especially in order to deceive
pranksters faked giant footprints and then claimed that they had seen Bigfoot
Synonyms & Similar Words
2
as in pretends
to present a false appearance of
while running for class president, Dan was not above faking friendship with people just to get their votes
Synonyms & Similar Words
3
as in devises
to perform, make, or do without preparation
if you give me the gist of the plan, I can probably fake enough for the speech
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
as in evades
to elude (an opponent in a sports contest) by making a deceptive or agile movement
the running back faked the defense by stepping to his left and then quickly cutting to the right
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of fakes
Michael Santoli, CNBC, 26 Jan. 2026
In the meantime, prepare and arm your self and your company to better spot the fakes—start with video.
—Dean Debiase, Forbes.com, 24 Jan. 2026
While other brands have flocked to Amazon as of late, ABH has been on it for some time to prevent fakes being sold on the site.
—Kathryn Hopkins, Footwear News, 20 Jan. 2026
The collectibles market is flooded with fakes.
—Dana O’Neil, CNN Money, 11 Jan. 2026
This change comes after Grok received a dressing-down from users and international officials for complying with requests to digitally undress women and underage girls or create sexualized deep fakes of them without their consent.
—Jennifer Zhan, Vulture, 9 Jan. 2026
The Massachusetts Institute of Technology Media Lab offers a good primer on discerning video fakes.
—James Warren, Chicago Tribune, 8 Jan. 2026
In recent years, overburdened staff spent spending 20 to 30 hours a week looking for fakes, said President Meridith Randall.
—Jaweed Kaleem, Los Angeles Times, 2 Jan. 2026
Morrisseau’s work, in particular, was the focus of what is believed to be the largest forgery ring of all time, in which several thousand fakes were illegitimately authenticated and sold around the world.
—Benjamin Cannon, The Atlantic, 23 Dec. 2025
Joe Otterson, Variety, 16 Jan. 2026
Brunson fakes the swing to the right corner, blows past VJ Edgecombe, gets both feet into the paint, draws two defenders and finds OG Anunoby in the left corner.
—Kristian Winfield, New York Daily News, 4 Jan. 2026
In Part 3, Assane (Sy) steals the Black Pearl, earns the support of the French public, fakes his own death, and saves his estranged mother’s life.
—Denise Petski, Deadline, 9 Dec. 2025
Jackson fakes the quarterback run before throwing it to Sparks for a touchdown.
—Caleb Yum, Austin American Statesman, 22 Nov. 2025
However, after a reconciliation and tearful goodbye with Glinda, Elphaba forms a plan to use the rumor that getting wet will kill her to her advantage and—unbeknownst to Glinda—ultimately fakes her own death by allowing Dorothy to throw a bucket a water on her.
—Megan McCluskey, Time, 21 Nov. 2025
On fourth-and-2 from 48-yard line, Nix fakes pitch to Dobbins and Sutton is open from moment left line of scrimmage because of formation.
—Joe Nguyen, Denver Post, 21 Sep. 2025
Or maybe the trend falters, fakes overwhelm the feel of exclusivity, and newer IPs eclipse it in the fickle pace of Gen‑Z fandom.
—Kate Hardcastle, Forbes.com, 4 Aug. 2025
Sally fakes the act — loudly, while banging on her table — and brings stares from fellow diners.
—Kimberly Nordyke, HollywoodReporter, 3 Sep. 2019
Noun
For now, the small-cap breakout to a new high should be respected after so many head fakes since 2021.
—Michael Santoli, CNBC, 26 Jan. 2026
In the meantime, prepare and arm your self and your company to better spot the fakes—start with video.
—Dean Debiase, Forbes.com, 24 Jan. 2026
While other brands have flocked to Amazon as of late, ABH has been on it for some time to prevent fakes being sold on the site.
—Kathryn Hopkins, Footwear News, 20 Jan. 2026
The collectibles market is flooded with fakes.
—Dana O’Neil, CNN Money, 11 Jan. 2026
This change comes after Grok received a dressing-down from users and international officials for complying with requests to digitally undress women and underage girls or create sexualized deep fakes of them without their consent.
—Jennifer Zhan, Vulture, 9 Jan. 2026
The Massachusetts Institute of Technology Media Lab offers a good primer on discerning video fakes.
—James Warren, Chicago Tribune, 8 Jan. 2026
In recent years, overburdened staff spent spending 20 to 30 hours a week looking for fakes, said President Meridith Randall.
—Jaweed Kaleem, Los Angeles Times, 2 Jan. 2026
Morrisseau’s work, in particular, was the focus of what is believed to be the largest forgery ring of all time, in which several thousand fakes were illegitimately authenticated and sold around the world.
—Benjamin Cannon, The Atlantic, 23 Dec. 2025
Verb
Ake fakes a core breach to get Braka off the ship, with the Klingarite reluctantly leaving.
—Joe Otterson, Variety, 16 Jan. 2026
Brunson fakes the swing to the right corner, blows past VJ Edgecombe, gets both feet into the paint, draws two defenders and finds OG Anunoby in the left corner.
—Kristian Winfield, New York Daily News, 4 Jan. 2026
In Part 3, Assane (Sy) steals the Black Pearl, earns the support of the French public, fakes his own death, and saves his estranged mother’s life.
—Denise Petski, Deadline, 9 Dec. 2025
Jackson fakes the quarterback run before throwing it to Sparks for a touchdown.
—Caleb Yum, Austin American Statesman, 22 Nov. 2025
However, after a reconciliation and tearful goodbye with Glinda, Elphaba forms a plan to use the rumor that getting wet will kill her to her advantage and—unbeknownst to Glinda—ultimately fakes her own death by allowing Dorothy to throw a bucket a water on her.
—Megan McCluskey, Time, 21 Nov. 2025
On fourth-and-2 from 48-yard line, Nix fakes pitch to Dobbins and Sutton is open from moment left line of scrimmage because of formation.
—Joe Nguyen, Denver Post, 21 Sep. 2025
Or maybe the trend falters, fakes overwhelm the feel of exclusivity, and newer IPs eclipse it in the fickle pace of Gen‑Z fandom.
—Kate Hardcastle, Forbes.com, 4 Aug. 2025
Sally fakes the act — loudly, while banging on her table — and brings stares from fellow diners.
—Kimberly Nordyke, HollywoodReporter, 3 Sep. 2019
Recent Examples of Synonyms for fakes
Noun
-
Each item passes through a multi-step process combining advanced imaging, database cross-references, and final expert verification, a hybrid system that eliminates bias, minimizes error, and safeguards agains increasingly sophisticated counterfeits.—
Tanya Benedicto Klich,
Forbes.com,
16 Jan. 2026
-
Do carve out a spot for the Mongkok market, with its colorful juxtaposition of souvenirs, food, fashions — beware of counterfeits, though — with live fish and even birds.—
Tianwei Zhang,
Footwear News,
24 Nov. 2025
Noun
-
The frauds have grown nearly in lockstep with the growth of the industry.—
Dana O’Neil,
CNN Money,
11 Jan. 2026
-
There is absolutely no evidence that frauds of this type or anywhere near this scale are happening in any of the other four states, or frankly that there is a large volume of as-yet-undiscovered fraud in Minnesota itself.—
New York Daily News Editorial Board,
New York Daily News,
7 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Subscribe today When the most populous nation on Earth forges a trade deal with a bloc that comprises nearly 15% of the world’s GDP, the ramifications will be widespread — and not just in monetary terms.—
Yeo Boon Ping,
CNBC,
27 Jan. 2026
-
Advertisement After Moro’s death, Fabione is in hiding, and his ever-loyal friend Toni forges passport documents to aid his escape, in exchange for Moro’s complete, uncensored memoirs in the Red Brigade’s possession.—
Rory Doherty,
Time,
26 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
The human therapist pretends to be a client.—
Lance Eliot,
Forbes.com,
21 Jan. 2026
-
By March, the city pretends the interruption never happened.—
Alexandra Martinez,
Artforum,
15 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Tiffany Bendayan, a chef and baker in Miami, devises different ways to make the table a space where her daughters—Emily and Sofia—feel comfortable sharing just about anything.—
Karen Cicero,
Parents,
21 Dec. 2025
-
Odysseus, the Ithacan warrior who is as celebrated for craftiness as Achilles is for brute strength, devises a clever ruse in which the Greeks place a giant wooden horse outside Troy’s walls and pretend to sail away.—
Elizabeth D. Samet,
Foreign Affairs,
29 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Experts who spoke to Flow Space are hopeful that these new approvals will provide the necessary tools to treat a disease that evades treatment by constantly mutating.—
Helen Carefoot,
Flow Space,
16 Dec. 2025
-
In the film, Sea-Based X-Band Radar detects a missile flying across the Pacific Ocean toward Chicago that later evades interception.—
Ryan Chan,
MSNBC Newsweek,
26 Nov. 2025
Noun
-
The Los Angeles Times reported that similar threats in multiple states, including Georgia, were traced to Russian domains and labeled politically disruptive hoaxes.—
Zachary Bynum,
CBS News,
18 Nov. 2025
-
In addition to the various homecoming shootings on HBCU campuses, several schools have fallen victim to swatting hoaxes aiming to foster confusion and chaos among the community.—
Julia Bonavita,
FOXNews.com,
9 Nov. 2025
Noun
-
The Cult of the Beaver has to fend off pretenders.—
AJ Willingham,
AJC.com,
13 Jan. 2026
-
Momentum hardens, vulnerabilities are exposed and the gap between contenders and pretenders is out in the open.—
Clayton Davis,
Variety,
7 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Fakes.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/fakes. Accessed 31 Jan. 2026.
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